Thirteen years after the catastrophic collapse of the Rana Plaza in Savar, the murder trial linked to one of the world’s worst industrial disasters is still ongoing, with proceedings largely stalled due to the repeated absence of witnesses.
The collapse on 24 April 2013 killed 1,136 people and injured around 1,000 others, most of whom were garment workers. Despite the magnitude of the tragedy, the legal process has yet to reach a final verdict.
The case is being heard at the Dhaka Additional District and Sessions Judge’s Court-8. Out of 594 listed witnesses, only 145 have testified so far, including the complainant, Sub-Inspector Wali Ashraf Khan. Court officials say the consistent failure of witnesses to appear has become the main obstacle in moving the case forward.
Authorities have issued non-bailable arrest warrants against several absent witnesses in an attempt to accelerate proceedings. Prosecutors said repeated instructions have also been given to law enforcement agencies to ensure witness attendance, but compliance remains limited.
Public Prosecutor Md Iqbal Hossain said the case holds “immense importance” and expressed hope that more witnesses would appear at the next hearing scheduled for 30 April, adding that efforts are underway to conclude the trial within this year.
Defence lawyer Advocate Masud Rana, representing accused Sohel Rana, said delays are mainly due to witness absence, noting that his client remains the only accused still in custody and that the defence also wants a speedy resolution.
Investigators had earlier found that visible cracks appeared in the building a day before the collapse, yet workers from four garment factories were allegedly compelled to continue work. The structure gave way shortly after generators were switched on around 9:45am on 24 April 2013.
The case was filed the following day with Savar Police Station, and the CID submitted its charge-sheet in 2015 against 41 accused. Charges were framed in 2016. Currently, two accused have died, 13 are absconding, and 25 are out on bail.
Sohel Rana, the main accused, was later arrested in Jashore and separately convicted in corruption-related cases, including failure to submit wealth statements. His mother was also convicted in a separate graft case involving illegal wealth accumulation.
More than a decade later, the prolonged trial continues to highlight the challenges in delivering timely justice in complex, witness-dependent criminal cases.
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